Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has expressed unwavering confidence that President William Ruto will clinch a second term in the 2027 General Election, despite mounting public discontent and economic challenges.
Speaking during the memorial service of former Cabinet Minister John Koech at the Africa Gospel Church in Karen, Murkomen drew parallels between the current political climate and that of 2005, when former President Mwai Kibaki lost a constitutional referendum and dissolved his Cabinet.“After the 2005 referendum happened, few wanted to serve in that Cabinet. At that point, it looked like Kibaki was completely finished after he had bundled ODM and LDP out of government,” Murkomen said.
He likened President Ruto’s decision to form a broad-based government—bringing in opposition leaders after last year’s Gen Z protests—to Kibaki’s move in 2005, which saw him rebuild his Cabinet by including new allies and eventually winning re-election in 2007 under the Party of National Unity (PNU).“What President Ruto did was not new.
The challenges he is facing are not new. In 2005, Kibaki was the most unpopular person; everybody was saying uchumi ni ya watu wachache. But he is the most celebrated president today,” said Murkomen.
He argued that a broad-based government is crucial for stabilising the country, asserting that Ruto’s administration is on the right path to uniting Kenya and steering it through turbulent times.“In times of great danger to the stability of a nation, only great leaders step forward to take the responsibility of steadying it,” Murkomen stated, praising the late Koech for stepping up to serve under Kibaki after the referendum fallout.
The CS dismissed growing criticism over the President’s popularity and leadership, maintaining that the head of state is well-positioned for re-election in 2027.“The challenges we went through last year are behind us. The future of this country is in safe hands,” he added.
Murkomen credited Koech and other post-referendum Cabinet appointees with helping Kibaki regain political strength, ultimately leading to his re-election and a transformative second term.
He urged Kenyans to rally behind President Ruto, predicting that history will judge him kindly, just as it has with President Kibaki.
